I’d like to thank WordPress for hosting such a cool site which in turn enables a writer’s whimsy to see daylight on the Internet and finds audiences such as you whom I otherwise might not have met! (Hey! a little rhyme there!)

So from the bottom of my heart to the top of the apple cart…(I can’t help it) thanks for reading! I look forward to adding future posts in 2011 here at Advantages of Mutual Respect and Fair Play.

I was perusing the Internet today, searching for the answer to a burning question… what ever happened to amateur athletes in the Olympic games? www.olympics30.com I bring this up today because tomorrow will be the showdown between the Canadian and the U.S.A. hockey teams for Olympic gold.newsid=449331.html?__source=msnhomepage&cid= I don’t mean to pick on hockey as a game because up here in the North it is an obsession. Hockey IS Canada. I jokingly said to a person at work while the Canadian and U.S. women hockey teams were playing for gold that if I didn’t want to sleep on the couch I had better cheer for the Canadians.newsid=447401.html?chrcontext=teamusa#canada+women+shut+u+s+hockey+gold But under closer scrutiny, here’s the rub.

The women’s teams are all amateurs while the men’s teams are all professionals. I scoured the rosters of both the Canadian and American men’s teams and could not find one amateur. Oh, I know… the women played in college and university teams (possibly on scholarship) but the men are paid to do a job whether they win or lose… and their job is hockey. It is more an all-star game than an Olympics and I had to find out why this happened. Not just in hockey, but in other categories such as basketball.

But first, a little Olympic history.

Jim Thorpe, All-American. Here is a young man plucked out of obscurity and made an Olympic hero by none other than “Pop” Warner himself. Jim Thorpe was possibly the greatest Olympian in modern history and was an amateur.

Jesse Owens was an Olympian who not only won gold but also defeated Hitler’s Aryan race philosophy on Germany’s own turf. Jesse Owens was an amateur.

Alice Coachman was the first black woman to win Olympic gold.Setting a world record in the high jump, Alice Coachman was an amateur.

Fanny Blankers Koen, “The Flying Housewife” is considered to be the best woman athlete ever. Recognized as the greatest female athlete of the 20th century,Fanny Koen was an amateur.

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I guess it comes down to the money, aka: Olympic green.newsid=452090.html?__source=msnhomepage&cid= If the Olympics was going to survive it had to enable professional athletes to compete otherwise viewership would continue to decline. Every other society in existence knew that the best teams were the professional ones so why not allow the professionals to compete, each representing his native country? But in doing this, they form a core of elite participants. Gone are the days when a Nebraska farm boy who can hurl a bale of hay one-handed further than anyone in the county gets a chance to pitch the discus or shot putt… and that’s too bad.

I wonder, what’s wrong with an amateur reaching the pinnacle of his chosen sport and then turning professional? Again, it is about the money. Olympic committees wrestled with the fairness of sponsorship, endorsements and compensation for decades. Competing countries found creative ways to train their athletes under the guise of military enrollment, thus enabling the State to pick up the tab.

It is interesting to note that as television became more popular so did professional sports. We expect professional athletes to perform well because they are getting paid to do so. But then when they do poorly, we feel robbed. Famous sports figures are overpaid, they are prima donnas and not worth the price of admission. Olympians, on the other hand being amateurs, have the advantages of heart; i.e. the love of the game and pride of nationality without monetary gain. If they fail it is understandable because (though they excel in their chosen field) at the end of the day they are like the rest of us mere mortals.

I have enjoyed what I have seen of the Olympics and look forward to the men’s final in hockey. But wouldn’t it be interesting to see Sidney Crosby in the figure skating competition or Ryan Miller as a speed skater? To be slightly out of their element might make the sport a little less calculated and a little more… amateurish FUN. It would put the professionals down to our level and make for a more interesting participant enjoying sport as a sport, not as just another job.

Okay, dang… just when I get to thinking I am a serious blog hack, someone comes along and declares I need reform. Perhaps it is time for an overhaul, after all… this month marks three years of AMRFP!

In the past three years we have talked about politics, love, religion, music, books, and movies. There has been social injustice, chaos and anarchy. We seem to teeter on the brink of disaster yet all in good humor and forced optimism because… what else is there? We obviously cannot pack up our things and relocate to another planet because no one would have us. We know we are the root problem and reason for disunity in the world but we cannot seem to eradicate this self-destructive urge. We are constantly bombarded with information, yet how can we decipher it, knowing which is accurate and which is merely bunk? Here’s another controversy…

My life has turned dramatically since I first fostered this blog on a whim three years ago. I set out to discover if there was any use in my attempting to write, wondering if I “had the goods”. I found my audience to be somewhat sporadic and the subjects I held near and dear to my heart less popular than the ones I thought to be frivolous, so therein lies the paradox. What I enjoy writing may not be what I am good at, what I am good at may be drudgery.

My most popular post to date has been; Songs to Play at Your Funeral from April, 2008,which I wrote based on what had actually transpired between my business partner and I one day during a light conversation on death. It has garnished twice the hits of the runner up; The Illegal Immigration Solution Conclusion, from June, 2007. While the latter post has had twice the exposure it has fostered less activity. I have posted poetry, short stories, a screenplay and the rough draft of my story, Shades of Hemingway. I have progressed (slowly) in my ability to add pictures and video (thanks YouTube) to my posts while trying not to use them in place of good (?) writing. And after three years, 340 posts, 333 tags, 96 categories, 1004 comments, 37,045 hits and 28,496 spam I am virtually right back where I started from, questioning my validity as a writer.

There has been one bright spot. Actually, the greatest reward I can think of has come on to me while doing this experiment. Like most things that we find to make life worthwhile it came unexpectedly, yet has been the difference between merely existing and living. She sits at my side right now, not realizing I am writing about her. My beautiful wife, Chantal.

I have proven myself by winning her attention, admiration and love. She has faith in my ability and confidence that one day, the world will see what she sees in me, though that confidence in myself wanes and falters. Through our love of writing; whether via our blogs, to each other publicly or privately, or in our imaginations, we have accomplished something that would not have materialized otherwise. We have become each others hero and fan club. We have become kindred spirits. Chantal and I are glorious. I have not failed as a writer, I have acquired a following of one, as she has found in me.

I am living in Canada now, which is quite the contrast from spending most of my life in Florida. The economy has put a strain on my ability to make a living through my trade and I am still struggling to adapt to life as a foreigner. But my beautiful girl has the utmost confidence in me so that is a hurdle I will easily overcome with patience. I am learning to accept that I cannot always have things my way. But I need to concentrate on making a living and right now it does not look like writing is the way of prosperity for me, at least not financially.

I started this blog in May of 2006 not sure of where it would go, how I would do or how long it would last. But I feel it has served it’s purpose, at least for a while. The archives will remain and comments will still be directed to me via e-mail, but I plan on taking a little hiatus.

This month, May 2009, is heading towards being my most active month ever, with seven days left it will easily accomplish this. The second most active month was back in November of 2007.

I’d like to think that on that note, it is a good time to bow out gracefully.

Perhaps hate is too strong of a word, how about immensely dislike with every fiber of my being?

Like millions of Americans and people the world over, I watched the Super Bowl last night and boy did I hope for an upset. I was SO tired of hearing about how great the Steelers were, of this much ballyhooed 6th ring was for a new “dynasty”. Well… I for one, am not buying it.

First of all, this is not the Steel Curtain of the ’70’s, so stop calling them that. THAT team was 30 years ago! Different players, different coaches and yes… same stinking town. THAT team was a dynasty, this one? hmmpf!

Second, how can a quarterback with the lowest rating in Super Bowl HISTORY return to Super Bowl form? It makes me puke to hear Al Micheals and John Madden gush over the Steelers quarterback. Last time out that guy (Big Ben) threw for one yard. (1) One yard for the entire game. (1) Somehow against Seattle, they won anyway… poor officiating the lead cause.

Third, against the Cards I read “The Dynasty Against the Doormats” and it makes me think “show them Kurt Warner” and by golly, he almost does. The Arizona Cardinals beat the spread and could have won the game EXCEPT for:

1) James Harrison’s “amazing” 100 yard dash. Al Micheals asks: “Did he step out of bounds?” but we never see the run back on the side lines. John Madden says, “Aw… with a run like that YOU GOTTA GIVE IT TO HIM!” and so they do. I’d like to have seen what Al was talking about way back in the beginning of the run when there was a crowd all over Harrison, but the replay ignored that part of the run back.

2) Penalties. Wow, did Arizona rack up the penalties. 15 yard facemask, which looked like the incidental 5 yarder to me. 15 yard roughing the passer, which looked like an inplay follow through which is NEVER called. 15 yard roughing the place kick holder, huh? Never heard that one called.

3) It was the SUPER BOWL! Let them play! Arizona had racked up 96 yards of penalties to Pittsburg’s 15 by the early parts of the 4th quarter then the officials decided to balance it out. The big, bad Steelers who LOVE to get physical sure played nice, didn’t they?

Okay, I rarely do this but since the post is still current, I needed to add this post script. As has been pointed out by several readers, bad officiating is in the eyes of the beholder and I regret that I generalized a little bit. I did research Super Bowl 40 and found the following on wikipedia:

and I was corrected by one reader that incidental face mask penalties are no longer called so a 15 yarder was the correct call.

Being in Canada now, the local station did show the Super Bowl, but I must not have had the advantage of those of you who COULD see the run back by Harrison, where I questioned whether he ran out of bounds. Where I was viewing I didn’t even get to see all the commercials ya’ll did so again… my mistake. (lamenting not seeing commercials? whoda thunk it?)

This does NOT mean I have to like the Steelers. I am a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and have had to endure thrashings by them much too often, but I do respect the franchise and what it has accomplished in garnishing 6 rings of the 43 Super Bowls played. I cannot discount that effort.

It WAS a good game and it kept our attention down to the very last seconds, which is what we sit down, expect and cheer for.

So… mea culpa mea culpa, I apologize to the fans of the Steelers. In this instance, I was wrong and I am big enough to admit it. I would love to see a dynasty of the new millenium to MATCH the one of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 70’s and who knows? Big Ben may even rise to the stature of Terry Bradshaw. The press was not always kind to Terry during that time and I see some comparisons to that great quarterback and Ben Roethlisberger Steelers-Roethlisberger_s.Ribs… so I for one would be rootin’ for him to succeed.

Relocating from the U.S. to Canada is an adjustment, not only in attitude but in thinking. I have to admit my knowledge of the Great White North area is limited. As I venture out I am stricken by the similarities and the contrasts to SW.Florida, where I have lived for the past 36 years. They have Walmart, Mc Donalds, Shell gasoline and Sears. We don’t have Canadian Tire, Tim Horton’s, Petro Canada or Zeller’s. In SW. Florida we have palm trees; straight, flat landscapes and miles of white, sandy beach. In Ontario they have Maple trees; winding, hilly streets and miles of dark, jagged rocks. They have vast blue skies, fiery sunsets and seagulls, we have vast blue skies, fiery sunsets and… seagulls. Hmm, what do these birds know that we don’t? Common ground. There is more to my adjustment here than meets the eye.

As I write this the wind is howling, whipping the tiny snowflake frisbees into a frenzy. The temperature is a frigid -19 but with the wind chill they say it is -31, that is in Centigrade. In order to convert to Fahrenheit you take the degrees in C. and multiply by 1.8 then add 32. So zero degrees C. equals 32 F. So that doesn’t sound too bad, does it? -40 C. equals -40 F. In other words, cold is cold… in any language. It was the first time since 1971 that the entire Canadian landscape enjoyed a white Christmas. People here say it was for my benefit. One of the most frequent expressions I have heard since I have arrived here is, “It’s not too bad outside” contrary to what you might hear further south, “It’s friggin’ colder than a well diggers ass!” I don’t know if that makes Canadians tougher than Floridians, maybe they just take it in stride. I have been on the beach in SW. Florida in January and heard visitors from up North complain of it being cold at 50 degrees F. So again, cold is cold no matter how you feel about it.

Since I live in Ontario there are many French speaking residents and they have their share of advertisements. It is odd to look at a box of Grains entiers Lucky Charms Chocolat or to see road side signs in kilometers and the French equivalent impasse. Kilometers are slower than miles per hour, right?

I am also told I have an accent. I have maintained my Mid-western drawl but embellished it with a southern ya’ll that kind meshes into a Mid-west/southern golly gee willickers. Generally I look like most Canadians do but when I start speaking I get the, “You must be from the States, eh?” or others say they would have guessed my country of origin after listening to me speak a while longer. Which, of course, makes me feel self conscious and also a little bit superior. I don’t know why that is but my French Canadian sweetheart tells me that we Americans have a superiority complex. We have to be the best at everything. For example: our championships are WORLD championships even if there are none other than American teams playing in them. But I’ll post more about that at some future date.

Most people cannot believe I would re-locate from sunny SW. Florida to the frigid North. Usually it comes out something like, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” which isn’t at all accusatory … just blatant bewilderment. I have enjoyed what I have seen so far and the people I have met have all been very friendly. In Florida we put up with 5 months of summer and in Ontario they put up with 5 months of winter so it kinda evens out. I suspect I’ll like Canada even more when the snows melt away and my clothing is not 4 layers deep. I also suffered my first cold in over a year and a half as an initiation of sorts.

The currency resembles Monopoly money and they have no $1 bills. There is a $1 coin (the loonie) and a $2 coin (the toonie) which always makes me feel I am getting short changed. I like the all French television channel even though I cannot understand what they are saying. And don’t even get me started on hockey… Canadians LOVE hockey and I have found that I enjoy it, too. (go Habs!)

One thing I did marvel at that probably would not have happened in the United States was while we were shopping in a liquor store buying wine. There was music being piped in over the intercom that I wasn’t really paying attention to until I heard, Sweet Little Shoe by Jesse Winchester. Canada was his adopted home for a number of years and when I recalled that, all my apprehensions swiftly dissolved away. I knew I could make a home here with that sort of recommendation. In fact, there is a virtual treasure trove of Canadian artists I might never have heard of (and some that I have) if I had not relocated here… which kinda sweetens the deal.

It will test my mettle, I have no doubt but I do it for love and that is the soundest, most relevant motive I can think of. I do it with humility and good old fashioned Yankee ingenuity, along with the unfaltering support of my beautiful girl… which makes any test worthwhile.

Another year has passed and what have we learned? As AMRFP enjoys it’s 304th post we begin to realize this blog will not take no for an answer! (what was the question?) Some people just have more audacity than others and will not go away!

2008 will be happily placed in our rear view mirror as we look with infertile optimism to a new Democratic majority across the board in American politics. Has there been another year in recent memory that has been as foul as this one? Most people would be hard pressed to find one that was, causing them to look back with disdain and relief at 2008 passing.

But in reflection, there have been some fine posts for one and all to enjoy on this site (humbly submitted by yours truly) and I’d be remiss not to mention the fact that my life changed dramatically (and for the better) this past year because of this little blog. For that reason alone it shall continue… not to mention the sheer joy I get at ranting on like I do and of course, the pleasure I derive from the remote possibility of your company.

Despite the difficult time I had at being regular the past three months because of my move to Canada and the fact that I posted a short story, a screenplay and the continuation of the Shades of Hemingway series,… my readership actually increased. AMRFP approaches the 32,ooo hits mark which made it the best year to date as far as averages go. Akismet has blocked over 25,000 spam comments (mostly porn but some insurance quotes are trying to muscle in as well) While some friends have faded into the depths of the black hole of the blogosphere, new friends have risen up which makes this site a pure joy each time I acquaint myself with a different prospective on life.

I met my lovely wife through the postings of our blogs, and while some may view the online relationship with trepidation I must say it has been the most exhilarating experience I have ever known. We were married in March of this past year and I was finally able to relocate here in Canada in October. But future posts will address our relationship as it progresses, suffice it to say I am thrilled by her love each and every day. That in itself should provide some interesting fodder…

So without further ado and for your discerning review, from the latest entry to the first of the year… Advantages of Mutual Respect and Fair Play 2008.

Scroll back… ya varmints!

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1) 12-23-08 – A Sand Road Christmas Card. Remembering the holidays of my youth back in Iowa. In the good ol’ days, when times were bad.

2) 12-20-08 – It’s Been a Long, Long, Long Time. Having just come off three months of creating and posting the third installment of the Shades of Hemingway series along with moving and adjusting to the climate of the North and making my excuses for being preoccupied with life in general and love in particular.

3) 12-16-08 thru 9-17-08 – Shades of Hemingway / Deja’ Voodoo. Parts 1 – 12 and Epilogue. My readership plummeted through the time I took to post this, which I knew it would. But I feel it also was because it generally takes about six weeks for the series to run through it’s entirety. When my circumstances dictated otherwise it took me 12 weeks and I feel I alienated myself from some of the faithful readers (both of them!) of AMRFP. But my own true love assured me from the beginning that it was MY blog and I should be able to go in the direction of my choosing, so I am glad I saw it through to the end. Now is the time to recapture our imaginations and I will do that to the best of my ability in the coming weeks… I promise.

4) 9-14-08 – Prelude to Shades of Hemingway / Deja’ Voodoo. You can’t say I didn’t warn ya. One day I’ll finish this story… and yes, post it here! Some people just will never learn… sigh.

5) 9-13-08 – Video. Elvis Presley Hound Dog, the complete performance. One of three videos I inserted for the post, Politics and the Billboard Top 100 Hits of All Time… pathetic.

6) 9-13-08 – Video. Elvis Jailhouse Rock. The second of three videos for the same post.

7) 9-13-08 – Video. Elvis Twist with Elvis. The third of three videos for the same post.

8) 9-13-08 – Politics and the Billboard Top 100 Hits of All Time… pathetic. You know the cool thing about these best of lists is that it gets our dander up. But picking The Twist because of the insertion some formula instead of just counting airtime play and sales smacks of favoritism. Too bad.

9) 9-11-08 – Born Laughing Out Loud. A little review I did of Steve Martin’s book, Born Standing Up, which I throughly enjoyed.

10) 8-29-08 – McCain/Palin? Bravo! (oh! bomb awed). I’m not much on politics, obviously. My beautiful girl and I go round and round about American politics (good naturedly) and it is an eye opener to think that we may be our own worst enemy. But I thought the picking of Palin was a good thing for McCain’s candidacy. While Obama landslided McCain in the electoral college, he only received 52% of the total vote per population input. Popular opinion not withstanding, I was sure nothing short of a miracle would put another Republican in the White House… and I was right.

11) 8-29-08 – return of the dreaded sequel, part 1. I had thought Deja’ Voodoo would have been up and presented way before this time, but you know… life gets in the way.

12) 8-19-08 – Spending the day with Tropical Storm Fay. Gosh I had fun with this one. I have lived in S.W. Florida for the better part of 36 years and you never get used to the weather in paradise.

13) 8-17-08 – you must remember this. Memorable movie kisses, what are yours?

14) 8-16-08 – Video. 1984. A funny thing happened on youTube… I meant this vid for another post and it somehow got crossed up in cyberspace then appeared sometime later on my blog. I don’t remember the subject or even if I posted it, but I liked the premise of 1984 knocking on your door (from Spirit) so I left it in… hm.

15) 8-16-08 – Video. Shawn Colvin – Catch the Wind. I chose this as one of two vids for the post, Catch the Wind, but it got lost in cyberspace at the same time I was foolin’ around with 1984. And since I am not all that great at shifting things around on my blog (lazy brained) I just left it in at the time it appeared. Yes, sometimes this blog takes on a life of it’s own.

16) 8-11-08 – Not your favorite cover. Another one of those “best of” lists and my opinion which you all hold your breath for.

17) 8-7-08 – don’t know much about the Hadron Collider. A little parody that just conjured itself up when I read of this multi- billion dollar effort to smash things together. Scientists on a controlled hissy fit.

18) 8-4-08 – oh the humanity! and the cost of celebrity… Paris Hilton’s mom decrying the media for it’s portrayal of her talented daughter.

19) 8-02-08 – Choosing a running mate. McCain can win if… Hey! he may or may not have listened to me on this one but you gotta admit McCain’s choice made the race interesting.

20) 7-29-08 – Hey… told you so! Senator Ted Stevens and his exploits have been discussed several times on this blog, glad justice was served on the jerk.

21) 7-26-08 – Catch the Wind. The things we can and cannot control cause me to wax on, wax off in contempt and sentiment… my favorite forms of expression.

22) 7-23-08 – Video. Donovan-Catch the Wind. The original that was meant to be accompanied by Shawn Colvin’s rendition, but perhaps better as a stand alone vid.

23) 7-12-08 – Let My Gonads Go! a.k.a. nuts to you, Jesse Jackson. Gosh, I loved doing this little parody considering the riff comes from a freedom song sung by the oppressed slaves during the Civil War. Jesse Jackson and his infamous utterance deserved to be ridiculed loud and long.

24) 7-7-08 – Where the light is, John Mayer. Occasionally cool things happen and I was thrilled to see this DVD/CD released. I bought it the very first day.

25) 7-5-08 – Quick Draw (Tim) McGraw and his rootin’, tootin’ wild west outlaw show. Got some negativity on this post but you know…

26) 6-29-08 – throw mama (and junior) from the plane! If any post could divide my sweetheart and I… this one could. I’ve looked at flight from both sides now.

27) 6-28-08 – the hippie dippy weatherman no longer sweats the ICBMs. The death of George Carlin caused a wee bit of reflection in my heart.

28) 6-28-08 – Video. Religion is bullshit. The late George Carlin expressing his opinion in true comedic form.

30) 6-17-08 – inner-mission. Left you to your own devices for a few days, did you break anything?

31) 6-15-08 – Happy Father’s Birthday. A slip of the tongue by my French speaking step-son tugs at my heart.

32) 6-15-08 – Video. Eric Clapton – My Father’s Eyes. Selected to go along with, Happy Father’s Birthday, I feel this is a song Eric did that could have gotten a little more acclaim but seems to be coming around again… which is cool, you can’t keep a good song down.

33) 6-12-08 – that’s right, you’re what’s left (screwed, blued and anti-socially tattooed). Gee, folks… just learn to live with it. Our government is not accountable.

34) 6-12-08 – Video. water as energy. We have the technology, we need the direction.

35) 6-8-08 – It was/is a Wonderful Life. The death of young “George Baily,” Bob Anderson, inspired this post. It was one of my favorites from the 2008 year simply because I got to review one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite movies of all time. “… you really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a shame it would be to throw it all away?”

36) 6-6-08 – Public Displays of Effection. What effect does PDA have on you? This post was inspired by a case of supposed discrimination… you be the judge.

37) 6-4-08 – Obama Surrender (Hillary concedes). I love these little parodies that just pop into mind. Funny how the resilient Ms. Clinton still has a place in her opponent’s heart.

38) 6-3-08 – Video. Jemima Surrender. Try as I might I couldn’t find a vid by the Band performing this song, but this rendition is still good.. in case you couldn’t catch the riff in Obama Surrender.

39) 5-31-08 – what goes around Karmas around? I’m not that sure of Karma. I mean… if it were true, why do the wicked seem to prosper while the good suffer? Sharon Stone is a dunce.

40) 5-28-08 – double checking reality bounce. One cannot be too careful, or so I thought…

58) 4-8-08 – Video. The Beatles – And I Love Her. Follows the post, Songs to Play At Your Funeral because I do.

59) 4-7-08 – Songs to Play At Your Funeral. This post has been on my blog for less than 9 months but it has become a runaway best topic since it’s inception and continues to pull away from the rest of the crowd at a rapid pace. I realize it is more the topic than the content, but even so it has become an easy #1 post for 2008 and the all time winner for top post so far at AMRFP. A distance second is, Let me call you sweetheart, posted on 1-6-07. Bringing up the rear at 7th is, the Rock and Roll Conspiracy, posted on 8-26-06. So it is quite the accomplishment in comparison. The fact that the conversation actually happened in the way I recorded it makes it all the more enjoyable for me because it is real life and that is the best sort of living.

61) 4-6-08 – Goodbye / Charlton Heston. 2008 saw many great stars passing, this was one of them.

62) 4-1-08 – Why are we here? The question of the ages, I found my reason.

63) 3-29-08 thru 2-20-08 – Indiana Jones and the Dance of Aldebaran. I had written this screenplay ages ago, but when the new film Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was about to be released I thought perhaps Indy might enjoy a sort of renaissance and an interest might be piqued in this tale. Too bad their story didn’t live up to the hype while mine didn’t live up to expectations… but oh well. It is preserved for prosperity.

65) 2-13-08 – Economic Stimulus Plan. You know, I still think my idea would work and I have not met any opposition to it.

66) 2-9-08 thru 1-20-08 – My Dog Sam. I don’t remember what caused me to write about that dog of mine, but I’m glad I did. I have thought about taking several of my recollections and compiling them into one story. Funny how things work in my mind, but I began the year with thoughts of Sand Road and my dog, Sam… then concluded the year with A Sand Road Christmas Card. They say you can never go home, but I think home never goes.

67) 1-18-08 – An Evaluation of the Bush Administration (2000-2008). Not too favorable to ol’ King George and my apologies for that. Will history be kind to him? With the worst rating of any sitting president… it is difficult to say.

68) 1-15-08 – …so you wanna be a Rock and Roll star? Rethinking some music and impressions of artists.

69) 1-15-08 – Video. The Byrds-So You Wanna Be A Rock And Roll Star. To accompany the post of the same name.

So there you have it. 70 different topics posted in 103 segments. While we may have had some bumps in the road of 2008, it has been a year that I have realized it is not the miles but the destination that makes the journey tolerable. It is not the smoothness of the pavement but the direction we are headed in that make the traveling light. It is not the degree of difficulty to proceed, it is the strength of our resolve to begin. It is not the complexity of the task but the undertaking with the commitment to see it through. Life indeed goes on…

And it is my sincere hope that whatever you may have had to endure, whatever your losses may have been, whatever your disappointments and fears… and we live in a world governed by and propagandized with fear, that you may face 2009 with optimism and hope. We may never understand the powers that be, but the power to be you and me holds the key to our happiness… it all comes from within.

May 22, a date that will live in… well, the Indiana Jones’ series history.

That is the release date of the much anticipated sequel to the Indiana Jones trilogy, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Like everyone else, I am a huge fan… but I have to add this asterisk.

I wrote my own Indiana Jones screenplay some time ago. I don’t know the premise of the new sequel, it doesn’t matter… this one would stand on it’s own.

Much of the Indiana Jones fervor had died down back when I contemplated my story and I thought I knew why. I had an idea that I wanted to submit to somebody, ANYBODY to keep the franchise going. Not that it needed my help, because fans of the hero have survived nearly two decades awaiting this upcoming adventure. But because I was so enthralled with the character that I didn’t want to see him fade into oblivion, I wrote mine.

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Try as I might I couldn’t get anywhere with my idea. Lucasfilms rejected me with the utmost courtesy because my request for a review came unsolicited. I can appreciate that. These days everybody has an idea, everybody has a screenplay and everybody thinks their idea has been plagiarized and wants to sue. I just wanted to give Indy a way out and I think I have succeeded.

I’m glad they finally agreed on a story, but I think mine would be better…

First, I would like to thank Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford for coming together once again for this next (last?) go round with the beloved character of Indiana Jones.

Second, I would like to apologize to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford for what I am about to do, i.e. publish my own screenplay on this blog.

and now the disclaimer….

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THE FOLLOWING SCREENPLAY IS AN UNAUTHORIZED WORK. IT IS NOT SANCTIONED, APPROVED OR CONDONED BY LUCASFILMS, STEVEN SPIELBERG, GEORGE LUCAS OR HARRISON FORD. IT IS A WORK OF FICTION AND OFFERED FREELY AND WITHOUT COMPENSATION. IT IS INTENDED FOR THE PRIVATE USE OF THE READERS OF THIS BLOG AND ANY UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION IS PROHIBITED.

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That being said….

I offered the following as an introduction on my original screenplay.

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Introducing Indiana Jones and the Dance of Aldebaran.

This script and its inquiry were rejected by Lucasfilms 3 times without being read. I wrote it on a lark because I believed that the character deserved more than the “grow old and die” ending that was painted for him in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Indy was a hero in a time when the world needed heroes, but that hour never seems to pass for his audience. Larger than life characters need more than to succumb to the frailties of mere mortals. We want them to always be there; ready to emerge once again whenever they are needed. It is my hope that this story will give fans of Indy’s the satisfaction of knowing that no matter what, heroes live on.

For continuity it would be helpful if the reader was familiar with the Indiana Jones trilogy as well as the characters from the book, “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton and/or the movie starring Ronald Colman.

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I will offer Part 1 on Wednesday the 20th (the date of the 20th has been good to me as of late 😉 ) and will continue on with the remainder of the story until it’s completion. If you are a fan of the franchise I hope you will feel I have done the character justice. If you are not, my readership has just been knocked down substantially… which usually happens when I do this sort of thing.

Can you believe it? another year has passed and what have we accomplished here? Hmmm…

Well, this New Year’s Day is AMRFP’s 201st entry. It has been a hit and miss affair as far as certain topics are concerned, readers feedback has been sporadic. Amazingly enough… some of my favorites have garnished the fewest hits, while the ones that seemed insignificant blasted the charts! I feel like Tommy Smothers or the court jester under the employment of the king. Can’t bite the hand that feeds you, but then again… I don’t want to lose my objectivity, that would be blogareer suicide.

My friend, dame… over at “matters of little consequence” recently wrote an interesting post about getting through Christmas. Sad day when the holidays catch us as burdensome rather than what they were intended to be… a time to be with family and friends. Perhaps with a sweetheart lounging on the beach, kissing in broad daylight while the whole world passes by and who’s to care? Perfect Christmas time when alligators made of sand greet you instead of snowmen… warm island breezes instead of arctic wind chill… glorious sun instead of overcast skies.

I wish I were there with you still, my fair one… the world could’ve ended then and I would have been satisfied. Lets keep the mas in Christmas.

Yes, the end of the year… a time to pause and reflect. This blog saw almost double the entries I posted in 2006, perhaps I have become too blabby in my old age…

Some were videos which is a poor substitute for good writing (or bad, depending on your view point) but I thought most of them were relevant to an adjoining topic, I tried to use them sparingly…

But for better or worse, in reverse order from last posted to the first…

scroll back…

peace.

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1) Shades of Hemingway/ Medium Exposure Parts 1-12 and epilogue… a joy for me to write but my hits for December were the lowest since the posting of the original Shades of Hemingway way back last spring. I should’ve known better but “I say what the hey… people get that way… I get that way, too.”

2) Prelude to Shades of Hemingway / Medium Exposure… prophetic introduction but who listens to the voice of reason?

3) A Holiday Wish… posted on 11-12-07. Expounding on the frailities of life and it’s aftermath

4) Ode to Daily Readers… I have one or two, perhaps you? thanks for the encouraging words and frequent flier miles 😉

5) …underwhelming… one of my favorite recent posts, life is like a box of chock ‘o’ nuts

6) SPACE… the final front tear… The fact that we all need a little space is not wasted here

7) Love Should (video)… introduced to me by my #1 fan, and she is right (plays into the next entry, rules of engagement )

8) rules of engagement… All’s fair in love and bologna? I am a firm believer in love, love above all else… I am a romantic, I make no bones about it

9) convertible therapy… Sometimes you just have to go out and burn a little ethanol

10) A Spiritual Man… my so-so attempt at lyrics, but the inspiration remains true. My fair one makes me feel like my sins have been atoned for

11) rude, crude, lewd and socially unacceptable behavior… Love will make you crazy, this is my account of one instance where my emotions got the better of me

12) Marry Me (video)… A great song and request. I posted it for the L&M entry, but it stands alone for it’s message… which shot me right through the heart

13) L&M… Love set to the tone of Romeo and Juliet, but without the sad ending and the thee, thy, those or what for

14) Goodbye! … it’s great to be back again… My vacation and the advances I made on finally meeting my true companion

15) Michelle (video) these are words that go together well. Posted for Love is… an entry and inspiration that I am most grateful for

16) Love is… This post, above all others… changed my life. Before… I hoped she did, from this day on… she knew she would. Glorious

17) the other life I should have led… We all wonder what might have been, here are a few of mine

18) Goodbye freebee T.V… set to the tune of the Stones, Ruby Tuesday

19) Goodbye Ruby Tuesday (video) for Goodbye freebee T.V. for those of you who couldn’t catch the riff

20) Thank You… acknowledging the best month ever for AMRFP

21) Ben & Ted’s Abhorrent Misadventure… Alaskan politics at it’s finest and who are we kidding? it’s the same all over

22) TMTV (video) information on the misconduct of Senator Ted Stevens

23) live and let liv tyler… there’s just not enough love in the world

24) Dear Abby, “ma’am” and me… I love Dear Abby and this was a tribute to her advice column

25) Dear Abby (video) self explanatory

26) The Brave Highway… my life at a crossroads, speed bump ahead

27) Sunday Morning Coming Down (video) posted for The Brave Highway

28) learn to avoid Internet scams! …good advice

29) pass it on… our sometimes not so subtle influences

30) Amazing Guitar Player (video) definately lives up to it’s hype, this one serves as an inspiration

31) I Never Thought I’d Live To Be A Hundred (video) posted for Live to be 100 entry

32) Live to be 100… live like you weren’t dying (for a while)

33) What If God Surfed the Internet? …inspired by damewiggensoflee and written to the tune of One of Us

34) One of Us (video) …in case you couldn’t catch the riff

35) I’m Too Sexy for S.W. Airlines… written for the passengers that were asked to leave their flights because of the clothing they wore… was that a threat to national security?

36) I’m Too Sexy (video) …in case you couldn’t catch the riff

37) Leave Britney Spears Alone… a parody of Leave Virginia Alone this entry garnished the most hits on this blog EVER in a single day

38) Leave Virginia Alone (video) …in case you couldn’t catch the riff

39) Yikes! discomblogulation… why do we blog?

40) just another day in paradox… our fine government at work covering up

41) Just Gimme Some Truth (video) posted for just another day in paradox and expresses my sentiments towards the Bush administration

42) Hey Jack Karouac (lyrics)… follows the video

41) Hey Jack Karouac (video) … in celebration of AMRFP’s 10,000th hit

42) You’ll Be in My Heart (video) … a promise to a memory

43) Whispering Pines (video) … music from a period in and around the post My First Bicycle

44) My First Bicycle… a tribute to the memory of my brother-in-law, Bob Henderson

46) CD’s & Elvis… marks the anniversary of Elvis’ death and the invention of the Compact Disc

47) Rehab (video) … in case you couldn’t catch the riff

48) rehab redux… based on the song by Winehouse, she is one messed up chick

49) as time goes by (video) …the fundamental things apply

50) I’m in repair (video) … recovering from a broken romance

51) new socks… same ol’ jaw …some people can write about anything

52) bad attitudes, sick bastards and cheaters win… got some flak on this one in my comments section, which was kinda cool

53) today is the best day ever! woo hoo! …and it was until Leave Britney Spears Alone

54) no time for the blues… or how to recover from them

55) Gravity (video) precedes no time for the blues

56) I Believe In You (video) follows What I Believe and seemed to fit

57) What I Believe… well, it’s about… what I believe

58) Running on Faith (video) follows Death, where is thy sting?

59) Death, where is thy sting? …written for a friend who lost a loved one

60) What a great idea! …something to make you think about fairness in our government’s welfare policy

61) A Good Line With High Extentions… a link to another site I enjoy

62) How come it always parades on my rain? …I’d still like to know the answer to that one

63) 7-7-7 (unlucky in love but still willing to gamble)… title says it all

64) Don’t You Love Me Anymore (video)

65) It’s Over (video)

66) Life By The Drop (video)

67) Please Forgive Me (video)

68) breaking up is hard to do… painful but true

69) See SiCKO (b4ubasicko2)… this film makes you think. Panned by the critics but, you be the judge

70) Hello Hillary… last attempt to influence the candidate. Interestingly, though she has never written me, I am on her e-mail list. ha

71) and still more pet peeves! …gosh, I enjoy complaining

72) the illegal immigration solution, conclusion… a 3 parter that began last year

73) Whilst I was away… catching up on the events that were going on that I didn’t comment on while I was posting Shades of Hemingway that I might have if I hadn’t taken the time to post Shades of Hemingway. Does that make sense?

74) Shades of Hemingway… 13 parts and a prologue, lowest read posts of the year… but don’t let that stop you 😉

75) Ladies and Gentleman, for your listening pleasure… a tribute to Jesse Winchester

76) sunrise… sunset and the we in between… reflections on the life we share

77) Hello Hillary… more questions for the Democratic candidate (unanswered, of course)

93) Hello Hillary… more unanswered questions for the Democratic candidate

94) 72 degrees in January… the fear factor

95) Hello Hillary… more unanswered questions for the Democratic candidate

96) the best dadgum country song, period! … at least, I think so

97) Hello Hillary… more unanswered questions for the Democratic candidate

98) people in the No… people should know better

99) Hello Hillary… first letter to the Democratic candidate

100) Flowers are better than bullets… remembering the Kent State Massacre

101) the good ol’ days… weren’t always good, tomorrow’s not as bad as it seems

102) Let me call you sweetheart… though this was my first entry in 2006, it re-occurs as one of the most popular topics of the year for this blog. Great fun for me to write as well as the reflection it creates

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Looking forward to a full and productive year in 2008. Thanks to you, faithful reader, for making it all worthwhile.